April 3, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern returns home to Big Ten action for the first time since February, as it hosts No. 12 Minnesota on Saturday and Iowa on Sunday. Match time for both days is set for noon. The Wildcats play four if their last six regular-season matches at home, before hosting the 2003 Big Ten Championship from April 24-27.
The Wildcats last played in Evanston on Feb. 20, when they knocked off DePaul, 7-0. NU then won its next two matches before dropping the last five.
Sophomore Tommy Hanus (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) has performed well throughout the year. After winning 14 of his last 19 matches and upping his record to 19-11, Hanus is just one win shy of matching his win total from all of last season. He is also 10-4 at No. 1 singles. Junior Ahmed Wahla (Lahore, Pakistan/Lahore American School) has also enjoyed a solid season. After entering the season with a 13-8 record over his first two years at NU, Wahla has nearly matched that total this season, winning 11 matches.
Minnesota (14-3, 4-1 Big Ten), riding a five-match winning streak, is led by Aleksey Zharinov, who is a team-best 25-8 in singles. Clay Estes and Manuel Lievano also check in with 21 wins apiece. The two also pair up to form the team's best doubles tandem, sporting a 15-5 mark.
Iowa is 5-7 overall and 1-4 in conference play. Seniors Hunter Skogman and Stuart Waters pair up at No. 1 doubles for an 8-4 record. Waters is also 16-11 at No. 1 singles.
NU fell to both Iowa and Minnesota last season. The Gophers prevailed, 7-0, in Minneapolis, while the Hawkeyes edged the 'Cats, 4-3, in Iowa City. NU holds the series advantage against Minnesota (44-42-1) and Iowa (53-19-1).
With temperatures expected to hover around 40 degrees this weekend, both matches will likely be played indoors at the Combe Tennis Center.